Liverpool's hopes for their crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal on Thursday night have been dealt a significant blow, with star striker Hugo Ekitike a major injury doubt.
Hamstring Issue Sidelines Key Striker
The 23-year-old French forward, who is the club's top scorer this season with 11 goals since his summer signing, has not trained with the squad this week. The problem stems from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss Sunday's 2-2 draw with Fulham.
Manager Arne Slot confirmed the ongoing concern on Wednesday morning, stating, "Hugo has not trained with us so far, we will see if he can do so today." Slot had initially downplayed the severity, but the quick succession of matches has complicated his recovery. "I already said when we played against Fulham that he was not going to be out for long, but as the matches come very fast..."
Late Setback After Scan Results
Ekitike's situation took a turn for the worse after he participated in training on Saturday. He subsequently felt discomfort in his hamstring. The club received the results of an MRI scan while travelling to face Fulham. Although Ekitike made the trip, a late-onset muscular complaint led to the decision not to risk him.
With no training sessions undertaken by midweek, there are now serious questions over his availability for the trip to the Emirates Stadium, particularly from the start of the match. This development hands a further advantage to league leaders Arsenal, who currently hold a commanding 14-point lead over Slot's Liverpool side.
Slot Praises Arsenal's Strengths
Speaking about the formidable challenge posed by Mikel Arteta's team, Slot was full of praise. "Perhaps their main virtue is that they have many strengths or that they barely have a weakness," he said. "They hardly concede goals. They can score into an empty net, they can score from set-pieces, they have very good ideas in creation, they can play long balls, so they are the complete package."
"That's why, in my opinion, they deserve to be at the top this season," Slot added.
Defensive Reinforcements Limited
On a more positive note for Liverpool, Slot confirmed that Joe Gomez is back and available, providing a boost to the defensive line. However, the manager admitted the squad is stretched at centre-back. "No coach would tell you that he is completely happy to have only two central defenders available," Slot stated.
He pointed to the long-term vision of the club, referencing summer signing Giovanni Leoni, who is ruled out for the season with a ligament injury. "We have to do smart things and this club has always tried to do smart things to be on par with the teams we want to compete with," Slot explained. "In an ideal world you would have more than two centre-backs available, but sometimes things turn out as they can turn out now and you have to accept that situation."
All eyes will now be on Thursday's team sheet to see if Liverpool's leading marksman can make a dramatic recovery in time for one of the season's most significant fixtures.
